Turning blocking device

ABSTRACT

A turnstile with a housing, a drive and a locking element with a barrier arm is set in motion following verification of the access authorization of a user wishing to pass, rotating the barrier arm from its blocking position into a position out of line of passage. The advance of the user is then detected by a downstream sensor, in particular an opto-electronic sensor, which causes the barrier arm to rotate further in the same direction into the blocking position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention concerns a turning blocking device for a passageway, witha blocking element rotatable by a drive and having a barrier armblocking the passageway in a blocking position, and with a sensorelement arranged behind the blocking position, whereby the blockingelement, especially after checking the right of entry of a passing user,first opens the passage to the sensor element, and second, afterdetection of the passing user by the sensor element, turns further intothe next blocking position.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Such a turnstile can be inferred from WO-A 94/25720, for example. There,after the right of entry has been checked, the drive motor is startedand the barrier arm is moved over a small angle of about 10° into a stopposition in which an electro-optical sensor is released. When the userhas indicated his readiness to pass through by having moved into thedetection range of the sensor, the driving motor is started again bymeans of the sensor and the blocking element is rotated until the nextbarrier arm is in the blocking position.

Conventional turnstiles have four or three barrier arms, turnstilescomprising three arms having a driving shaft inclined by about 45° forspace-saving reasons. Hence, in the passing direction the spaceavailable to the user is small and short since the turnstile formsfunctionally a moving lock chamber having a front and a rear limitation.Passing through the turnstile may cause difficulties, particularly ifthe user carries articles, such as sports goods, bags etc. It currentlyoccurs that the users themselves, in particular the articles they carry,get stuck between the barrier arms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The task of the invention is to eliminate the above-mentioneddisadvantages and to increase the convenience of passage, especially forusers carrying articles.

In a first embodiment, this is achieved by providing the blockingelement with a single barrier arm only that is rotated about an angle ofabout 360° between each blocking position. Alternatively, a secondembodiment can solve the problem by providing the blocking element withtwo barrier arms offset at 180° that are rotated about an angle of 180°between each blocking position.

When passage has been allowed by the control device permitting entry(card reader, coin machine, checking person etc.), the driving motorstarts and rotates the blocking element about an angle of at least 90°,which may be as much as 270° if a single barrier arm is provided, sothat passage is completely unimpeded. Now, the user can pass, since nobarrier arm, neither in front of him nor behind him, projects into thepassageway, and gets after passing the blocking position into the rangeof the sensor. The latter-mentioned starts the driving motor again sothat behind the user the barrier arm pivots again into the blockingposition.

Hence, the number of barrier arms provided is such that there is atleast one position in which passage is unimpeded over the full widthwithout restriction and hindrance. Nevertheless, all requirements to theturning blocking device are fulfilled, i.e., there are provided amechanical barrier against unauthorized passage in both directions, aswell as all other possibilities for checking and counting users and forchannelling users into one queue. In this arrangement, it is aparticular advantage that in case of an emergency switching, it is onlynecessary to put the drive out of function only in the position of thebarrier arm after the first partial rotation. For this purpose, partsneed not be uncoupled or dismounted since passage is completelyunimpeded after the first partial rotation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an angled view of a first embodiment of the turning blockingdevice in accordance with the present invention utilizing a singlebarrier arm,

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the turning blocking device as shownin FIG. 1 showing a user being blocked by the device,

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of the turning blocking device of FIG. 2in an open position,

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the user ina trigger position,

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view similar to FIG. 2 in an open position,

FIG. 6 is an angled view of a second embodiment of the turning blockingdevice in accordance with the present invention, utilizing two barrierarms,

FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of the turning blocking device as shownin FIG. 6 showing a user being blocked by the device,

FIG. 8 is a schematic top view of the turning blocking device of FIG. 7in an open position,

FIG. 9 is a schematic top view of the turning blocking device of FIG. 8in an opened position, and

FIG. 10 is a schematic top view of the turning blocking device similarto FIG. 8 in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment, the sensor is an optoelectric sensor butother types of presence or passage detectors are equally suitable.

The sensor is preferably installed above the drive shaft in the housing,so that the signal can be transmitted to control the motor in the usualway over permanent lines.

The optoelectric sensor can comprise at least one light scanner thatresponds to reflective changes in a beam of light emitted and that isequipped with a filter for outside light and background. The detectionbeam emitted is reflected by the passing user. The reflected light hitsthe first light receiver, which compares the portion of light receivedwith that portion of light that is reflected on a second light receiverfrom the background further away. Since the positions of both lightreceivers are adjustable, the range of the detection beam can be limitedby determining the distance between its point of intersection and thereflective beam of the second light receiver. This process of findingthe difference is largely dependent on reflective properties. The lightscanner preferably emits infrared light.

A direct current motor that can be short-circuited in the stop positionmay be used to drive the blocking device. Preferably, a worm wheel isalso arranged on the drive shaft, into which a non-inhibiting worm fits,on whose shaft there is a magnetic brake and a device for determiningthe direction of rotation driven by the motor via a tractive mechanism.The magnetic brake can be activated in particular in the blockingposition.

The invention will be explained in greater detail below using thefigures in the enclosed drawings, but is not limited to them.

The housing 2 of a turning blocking device is arranged on a frame 1 soits height can be adjusted. The blocking device is assigned to a track,and has a blocking element 3 with a single barrier arm 4. The barrierarm 4 is in a blocking position, which is in an angle between 0° androughly 10° in front of an imaginary center line. A worm wheel isattached to the shaft of the blocking element 3, into which anon-inhibiting worm fits, which is driven by an electric drive motor viaa tractive mechanism. The blocking element 3 is held in the blockingposition of the barrier arm 4 by an electromagnetic brake, which gripsthe shaft of the worm. A disk that recognizes the direction and angle ofrotation is also arranged on this shaft with a detector assigned to it.The blocking device also has an optoelectric sensor 5, via which thedrive motor is switched on and off, and, preferably, there is furtherprovided a checking device 7 having a transmitting/receiving unit 8 fornon-contact control, and, possibly, a magnetic card reader and adisplay.

The blocking position of the blocking device is shown in FIGS. 2 to 5. Auser 18 standing in front of the barrier arm 4 cannot be detected by thesensor, since its detection range is behind the barrier arm (FIG. 2). Ifthe checking device 7 gives permission for passage through the track,the brake is released and the drive motor turns the barrier arm 4 out ofthe locked position into a stop position in which the motor is stoppedagain. The blocking element 3 turns about 180 to 210 degrees in order toallow access to the detection range 6 and to make passage totallyunimpeded. If the user 18 moves forward he enters the detection range 6,as can be seen in FIG. 4, and via the sensor 5 the motor of the blockingdevice is turned on again. The motor turns the blocking element 3 in thesame sense of rotation until the barrier arm 4 goes into the blockingposition, in which the brake is reactivated. An exact position of thebarrier arm 4 in the blocking position and in the stop position is ofsubordinate significance.

It is of advantage to provide for a relatively quick second partialrotation from the intermediate position into the locking position sothat the following user is stopped from unauthorized passage. Hence, thesecond partial rotation should not exceed 90°.

In the second embodiment according to FIGS. 6 to 10, the blockingelement 3 has two barrier arms 4 offset at 180°. In this arrangement,too, a first partial rotation about 90° also gives free passage, as canbe seen in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The turning blocking device according to the invention is independent ofthe height of the users or of articles moving with them. It is thereforealso conceivable to use the turning blocking device in connection withlanes for motor vehicles, for example at the entry into car parks.

What is claimed is:
 1. A turning blocking device including a passageway,the blocking device for blocking a user from passing through saidpassageway,comprising:a housing enclosing a drive shaft connected to adrive motor, a rotatable blocking element connected to said drive shaft,said blocking element having one and only one barrier arm, which blockssaid passageway and prevents the user from passing through saidpassageway when in a first blocking position when said housing ismounted beside said passageway, an optical sensor element mounted onsaid housing, said optical sensor element sensing changes in light, whenthe user passes through said passageway by sensing changes in a lightdetection range projected in a path of travel reached by the user afterpassing beyond said blocking position of said barrier arm, said barrierarm being turned in one direction from said blocking position into anintermediate position remote of said passageway in order to allowpassage of the user, said barrier arm being turned further, afterdetection of the user passing through said light detection rangeprojected in the path of travel, by said optical sensor activating saiddrive motor after passage of the user through said light detection rangeprojected in the path of travel so that said blocking arm rotates in thesame direction to a second blocking position.
 2. The turning blockingdevice according to claim 1, wherein said single barrier arm rotatesthrough an angle of rotation no greater than 360° between each blockingposition.
 3. The turning blocking device according to claim 2, whereinsaid barrier arm is rotated by a drive motor.
 4. The turning blockingdevice according to claim 3, wherein said optical sensor is anopto-electronic sensor.
 5. The turning blocking device according toclaim 4, wherein said opto-electronic sensor comprises at least onelight sensor for responding to reflective changes in a beam of lightemitted.
 6. The turning blocking device according to claim 5, whereinsaid opto-electronic sensor comprises a filter for eliminatingbackground light.
 7. The turning blocking device according to claim 1,wherein said blocking element comprises a worm wheel attached to a shaftof said blocking element, and a non-inhibiting worm engages said wormwheel, said non-inhibiting worm being driven by an electric drive motor.8. The turning blocking device according to claim 7, wherein saidelectric drive motor functions via a tractive mechanism.
 9. The turning,blocking device according to claim 1, also including a control devicefor activating the turning blocking device.
 10. The turning blockingdevice according to claim 9, wherein said control device comprises acoin machine.
 11. The turning blocking device according to claim 9,wherein said control device comprises a card reader.
 12. A turningblocking device including a passageway, the blocking device for blockinga user from passing through said passageway,comprising:a housingenclosing a vertically extending drive shaft connected to a drive motor;a rotatable blocking element connected to said vertically extendingdrive shaft, said blocking element having two barrier arms positioned180 degrees from each other from said vertically extending drive shaft,each of said barrier arms blocking passageway one at a time when in ablocking position when said housing is mounted beside said passageway;an optical sensor element mounted on said housing, said optical sensorelement sensing changes in light caused by the user passing through saidpassageway, said optical sensor sensing changes in a light detectionrange projected in a path of travel reached by the user after passingbeyond said blocking position of said barrier arms, each of said barrierarms being turned in one direction from said blocking position into anintermediate position parallel to said passageway in order to allowpassage the user, and being capable of being turned further, afterdetection of the passing user passing through said light detection rangeprojected in the path of travel, said optical sensor activating thedrive motor after passage of the user through said light detection rangeprojected in the path of travel, so that said barrier arms rotate in thesame direction to a second blocking position.
 13. The turning blockingdevice according to claim 12, wherein said blocking element turnsthrough an angle of 180° between each blocking position.
 14. The turningblocking device according to claim 13, wherein each of said barrier armsis rotated by a drive motor.
 15. The turning blocking device accordingto claim 14, wherein said optical sensor is an opto-electronic sensor.16. The turning blocking device according to claim 15, wherein saidopto-electronic sensor comprises at least one light sensor forresponding to reflective changes in a beam of light emitted.
 17. Theturning blocking device according to claim 16, wherein saidopto-electronic sensor comprises a filter for eliminating backgroundlight.
 18. The turning blocking device according to claim 12, whereinsaid blocking element comprises a worm wheel attached to a shaft of saidblocking element, and a non-inhibiting worm engages said worm wheel,said non-inhibiting worm being driven by an electric motor.
 19. Theturning blocking device according to claim 18, wherein said electricdrive motor functions via a tractive mechanism.
 20. The turning blockingdevice according to claim 12, also including a control device foractivating the turning blocking device.
 21. The turning blocking deviceaccording to claim 20, wherein said control device comprises a coinmachine.
 22. The turning blocking device according to claim 21, whereinsaid controlling device comprises a card reader.